Duplication of iron ore mining operation, Yandi mine ML 270SA, Hamersley Range

The proposal is to develop a second open-cut iron ore mining operation on Mineral Lease 270SA. Known as the Central Mesa 1 and 2 operation, the new proposed mine site is located in the Hamersley Ranges of the Pilbara Region of Western Australia. The proponent proposes that a lease-wide Environmental Management Programme be developed and apply to both the Central Mesa 1 and 2 mine, the Yandi E2 mine and future operations on Mineral Lease 270SA.

The proposed second iron ore mining operation, Yandi C1/C2, is located on resources totalling approximately 200 Mt. Lowering of the present water table by approximately 40 m is necessary to recover all of the economic ore. The operation will be serviced by an additional rail spur of approximately 10 km length, terminating in a loop. The crushing, screening and trainloading facilities will essentially be a duplication of the infrastructure already in place to serve the existing Yandi E2 operations.